Collection Summary
John Steinbeck Papers
1939-1990
1939-1941
1939-1990
1939-1941
MSS41285
Steinbeck, John, 1902-1968
20 items
4 containers
1.4 linear feet
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Author. Typescripts and galleys of
The Grapes of Wrath
and
Sea of Cortez,
printed matter and reference material, correspondence by John Steinbeck and
Elaine A. Steinbeck, and photographs.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Ricketts, Edward Flanders, 1897-1948, Sea of Cortez: a leisurely journal of travel and research, with a scientific appendix comprising materials for a source book on the marine animals of the Panamic faunal province. 1941.
Steinbeck family--Correspondence.
Steinbeck family.
Steinbeck, Elaine A.--Correspondence.
Steinbeck, John, 1902-1968, Sea of Cortez: a leisurely journal of travel and research, with a scientific appendix comprising materials for a source book on the marine animals of the Panamic faunal province. 1941.
Steinbeck, John, 1902-1968.
Steinbeck, John, 1902-1968. Grapes of Wrath. 1940.
Steinbeck, John, IV, 1946-1991.
Subjects
American literature.
Ethics--United States.
Literature.
Vietnam War, 1961-1975.
Voyages and travels.
Places
Europe--Description and travel.
Sag Harbor (N.Y.)--Social life and customs.
United States--Politics and government.
Occupations
Authors.
Acquisition Information
The papers of John Steinbeck, author, were given to the Library of Congress by Viking
Press in 1943 and transferred to the Manuscript Division from the Rare Book and
Special Collections Division in 1964. Additional material was purchased from 2001 to
2022.
Processing History
The papers of John Steinbeck were housed and listed circa 1965. The papers were
revised and expanded in 2007 by Karen Linn Femia and in 2022 by Pang H. Xiong.
Other Repositories
Other papers of John Steinbeck and the Steinbeck family can be found in the Wells
Fargo Steinbeck Collection at the Department of Special Collections in the Cecil H.
Green Library at Stanford University.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of John Steinbeck is governed by
the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of John Steinbeck are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact
the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site
and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container number, John Steinbeck Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress,
Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1902, Feb. 20
Born, Salinas, Calif.
1919
Graduated Salinas High School, Salinas, Calif.
1919
1926
Attended Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.
1926
Moved to New York City, N.Y., worked as laborer on construction of
Madison Square Garden, and reporter for
New York American
1927
1928
Estate caretaker in Lake Tahoe, Calif.
1929
Published
Cup of Gold: A Life of Sir Henry Morgan, Buccaneer, with
Occasional Reference to History.
New York: R. M. McBride
1930
Married Carol Henning (divorced 1943)
1935
Published
Tortilla Flat.
New York: Covici-Friede
1936
Published
In Dubious Battle.
New York: Covici-Friede
1937
Published
Of Mice and Men.
New York: Covici-Friede
Published
Red Pony.
New York: Covici-Friede
1939
Published
The Grapes of Wrath.
New York: Viking Press
1940
Awarded Pulitzer Prize for
The Grapes of Wrath.
1941
Published with Edward Flanders Ricketts
Sea of Cortez: A Leisurely Journal of Travel and
Research.
New York: Viking Press
Wrote screenplay for
The Forgotten Village
1943
Married Gwyn Conger (divorced 1948)
1945
Published
Cannery Row.
New York: Viking Press
1947
Published
The Pearl.
With drawings by José Clemente Orozco. New York: Viking Press
1948
Elected to American Academy of Arts and Letters
1950
Married Elaine Anderson (died 2003)
1952
Published
East of Eden.
New York: Viking Press
Wrote screenplay for
Viva Zapata!
1962
Awarded Nobel Prize for literature
Published
Travels with Charley: In Search of America.
New York: Viking Press
1964
Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
1966
1967
Traveled to Vietnam and reported on Vietnam War for
Newsday
1968, Dec. 20
Died, New York, N.Y.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of John Steinbeck (1902-1968) span the years 1939-1990, with the bulk of
the material dating from 1939 to 1941. Of his literary work, the collection includes
typescripts with holograph corrections and galleys of
The Grapes of Wrath
and
Sea of Cortez: A Leisurely Journal of Travel and Research
, the latter coauthored by Edward Flanders Ricketts, together with related
material. A letter by Steinbeck to friends Cynthia Rogers Wallsten and Robert
Wallsten describes his stay on Capri Island, Italy, in 1962.
The 2022 Addition includes correspondence from Elaine A. Steinbeck to her mother,
Libbie Adeline Anderson, and other family members. Letters and postcards include
details and updates about Elaine A. Steinbeck's daughter, Waverly Scott Kaffaga, and
John Steinbeck's sons, Thomas Steinbeck and John Steinbeck IV; John Steinbeck's
health; John Steinbeck IV's departure to Vietnam as an army specialist; life in Sag
Harbor, New York; and traveling in England, France, and Italy. Correspondence from
John Steinbeck to Eugene Istomin notes his refusal to take part publicly in American
politics, and Steinbeck's published letter to Adlai E. Stevenson II in the March
1960 issue of
Coronet
addresses the topic of immorality in the United States. Photographs include
an Associated Press image of Steinbeck with John Steinbeck IV in Saigon, Vietnam, in
1966.
Arrangement of the Collection
This collection is arranged alphabetically by type of material or title with the 2022
Addition listed last and arranged by type of material.
Container List
Container
Contents
1
Books
1
The Grapes of Wrath
1
Galleys, circa 1939
circa
1939
(3 folders)
1
Miscellaneous printed matter,
1940-1941
1940-1941
1
Typescripts, circa 1939
circa
1939
1
Chapters 1-15
(2 folders)
2
Chapters 16-30
(4 folders)
2
Sea of Cortez,
circa 1941
circa
1941
2
Galleys
2
Reference material
3
Reference material
(2 folders)
3
Typescripts
(4 folders)
3
Correspondence, 1962
1962
4
2022 Addition
4
Correspondence
4
Steinbeck, Elaine A.,
1959-1966
1959-1966
4
Steinbeck, John, 1961,
1968
1961,
1968
4
Photographs, 1961-1966, 1990
1961-1966,
1990